"Professional Goals Essay" for University-wide Fellowship?

[Hannalore]

Hey all,

 

So I've been nominated for a fellowship that I would very much like to receive from my first choice school. The thing of it is, those competing for it are nominees from the incoming graduate class of -every- department. Whether or not I get it will be judged, among a few other things, on a "professional goals essay" of around 750 words. That's all I know.

 

I am grappling with how to handle this. I don't know how I should frame an essay encompassing my goals that will be judged alongside STEM applicants. I am assuming I can't be as detailed in my research interests as I was in my SOP, but I don't want to be too vague! I'm also not sure how far into the future I should be looking. Has anyone ever written something like this? If so, how did you manage it? 

[Pol4ris]

I've never had to write one of these so the following is not life-tested advice. I think the big thing is to have a nice balance. Chances are, the readers on the committee are comprised of multiple disciplines so while STEM peeps may not entirely understand or care about your specific research interests, I think being too general won't reflect enough of you or your passion which, at the end of the day, is what makes you stand out from Joe Chemistry etc. I also think professional goals blends a certain expectation of sucess with where you specifically imagine yourself. Maybe the easiest way to go about it is to reflect on where you want to see yourself in 1, 5, 10, or 20 years and what goals you are going to use to benchmark the success of whatever your ultimate vision is for your professional career. From that perspective, I don't think you necessarily need to discuss in length your research into the manner in which the portrayal of badgers evolved in post-Milton literature (random example), but addressing professional goals specifically relating to English or the manner in which you anticipate approaching or safeguarding pitfalls common to humanities positions will illustrate an awareness for your field. Best of luck~

[empress-marmot]

I won a fellowship at a university from writing a "personal statement," so perhaps I can help. First, I wouldn't worry about those STEM people. They may be fancy-schmancy awesome scientists, but you're the wordsmith. You'll be fine. 

 

 I also think professional goals blends a certain expectation of success with where you specifically imagine yourself. Maybe the easiest way to go about it is to reflect on where you want to see yourself in 1, 5, 10, or 20 years and what goals you are going to use to benchmark the success of whatever your ultimate vision is for your professional career. From that perspective, I don't think you necessarily need to discuss in length your research into the manner in which the portrayal of badgers evolved in post-Milton literature (random example), but addressing professional goals specifically relating to English or the manner in which you anticipate approaching or safeguarding pitfalls common to humanities positions will illustrate an awareness for your field. 

 

I'd agree with Pol4ris, though I would advise sucking up to the university's committee as you write their statement. When the committee reviews nominees, they want to see a company person, one who will contribute to the prestige of the university and continue to contribute to the university after graduation. Frame your professional goals in ways that everyone on the committee will understand and appreciate. Explain how post-Milton badgers affect everyone at the university, and why your researching them is absolutely necessary. 

 

You may want to consider writing about your professional goals in line with the university's mission statement. Perhaps not something as blatant as "Awesome University's core value is the preservation of poetic wildlife, and I will support this value with my research in post-Milton badgers," but I don't see any problem with showing that you know stuff about the university. 

 

I thought about my fellowship essay as a grant proposal for myself. (essentially true). What was I bringing to the table? If Awesome U gave me a fellowship, what could I do to benefit the university? How would the fellowship benefit me after I graduated? Most importantly, how would I benefit Awesome U after I graduated? 

 

If you'd like to read my essay, just let me know. It certainly wasn't a work of art, but it got the job done. Good luck!

[Hannalore]

Is it too late to change my specialization to post-Milton badgers? I could write my dissertation on this: http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/badgers

 

Thanks for the advice so far you guys, I am trying to incorporate it as I work through this first draft!